Metal forming machine and auxiliary fixture and combination thereof



R. METAL FORMING MACHINE AND AUXILIARY FIXTURE! July 9, 1963 F. DE MARCO AND COMBINATION THEREOF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20. 1960 INVENTOR. QM 6 o@ @Armewfk July 9, 1963 R. F. DE MARCO 7 METAL FORMING MACHINE AND AUXILIARY FIXTURE AND COMBINATION THEREOF Filed Sept. 20. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 43,4"! 6 Q m BY 9 ALLG'ATTOENEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,096,807 Patented July 9, 1963 3,096,807 METAL FORMING MACE-ENE AND AUXILIARY FIXT AND QIQMBENATEON THEREOF Robert F. De Marco, Mentor, Ohio, assiguor to The Cyril Bath Company, Solon, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 20, 1%0, Ser. No. 57,302 7 Claims. (Cl. 153-40) This invention relates to a metal forming machine, and particularly to a combined wipe and stretch forming machine and an auxiliary stock forming fixture therefor.

More particularly, the invention relates to a combination of the fixture with a stretch forming machine employing a rotary table on which are mounted a side face die and means for connecting one end of a length of stock for rotation with the die, a stretch forming assemblage for gripping the other end of the stock and applying endwise stretch forming tension thereto during rotation of the table for wrapping the stock onto the die. It relates also to such a machine in which, concurrenlty with the wrapping of the stock on the die, the stock is pressed firmly against the side face of the die by means of a traversing wipe shoe which is arranged to be moved alongside the side face of the die and yieldably urged towards the side face thereof.

Again, there are instances in which it is desirable to have an auxiliary wipe shoe mounted on the table for rotation independently of the table and through 360 about the table axis. This is true even in the case of combined wipe and stretch forming wherein it is sometimes desirable that such an auxiliary wipe shoe be provided in addition to the usual traversing wipe shoe.

' It is particularly desirable to have a fixture including an auxiliary wipe shoe carried on the table and arranged to travel about the axis of the curvature of the die or rotational axis of the table throughout 360 or more, as desired;

With a fixture of this character, combined with such machines, a number of operations can be performed much more effectively than with the conventional traversing wipe shoe and stretch forming assemblage, such as shown, for example, in the US. Patent No. 2,810,421, issued October 22, 1957, to Dolney and Hein. Further, the fixture can be used for some purposes independently of the usual wipe shoe and stretch forming assembly.

It is desirable, also, that the fixture be operable independently of table rotation and operable independently of the conventional traversing wipe shoe. Since in some instances it would not be necessary or desirable to use the same, it is preferably made in a form which may readily be detached from, or applied to, the table of machines such as above described.

Various objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a machine with the fixture of the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the fixture; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a main frame 1 on which a table 2 is mounted for rotation about an upright axis 3. The table is provided with a coaxial ring gear 4 which is in fixed position thereon and which is driven by a suitable spur gear 5. The gear, in turn, is driven through a reversible transmission 6, by a motor ,7 so that the table can be rotated about its axis in oppisite directions, selectively, for stretch forming the sto c Mounted on the frame in spaced relation to the table is a reversible stretch forming assemblage, indicated generally at 9, and which, in the form illustrated, is in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 10 in which is reciprocable a piston 11 having a rod 12. The assemblage is mounted on a suitable swivelling carriage 13 for swinging about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the table for maintaining proper tangential alignment with the side face of the die during stretch forming.

Mounted on the table for rotation therewith is a side face die 14, together with a suitable clamp 15 for clamping engagement with one end of the stock S. A stretch forming head 16 is mounted on a pedestal 17 of a slide 13 which is connected to the rod 12 of the piston for reciprocation thereby. The slide is carried in a slideway 19 on, and rotatable with the carriage 13, and which is parallel to the piston axis.

Pressure fluid is supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder 10, selectively, from a suitable pump 20 driven by a motor 21, the pressure being supplied to the cylinder through a suitable remote control reversing valve in a conventional manner.

A side frame 23 extends alongside the table and has a slideway 24 on which a carriage 25 for a traversing wipe forming assemblage is mounted. The carriage 25 is driven in opposite directions along the slideway 24 by a double-ended piston and cylinder assemblage, indicated generally at 26. In the form illustrated, the assemblage comprises a cylinder 27 mounted on the carriage 25 for movement therewith. A double-end piston 28 is reciprocable therein and has its rods 29 connected to the side frame 23 for traversing the wipe shoe carriage along the slideway 24 in opposite directions, selectively.

Mounted on the carriage 25 is a wipe forming assemblage 30 which may comprise a hydraulic cylinder 31 and a piston 32 therein and having a rod 33. The rod is drivingly connected to a slide 34 which is slidable in a guideway, on the carriage 25, parallel to the piston axis. A wipe head 35 is mounted on the slide 34.

Referring next to the specific fixture of the present invention and the manner in which it is combined with such machines, the fixture comprises essentially an annular base plate 40 which is bolted detachably to the table in fixed and coaxial relation with the table. Mounted on the top face of the plate 40 is a track 41 comprising an inner curvilinear rail 41a and an outer rail 41b. These rails are preferably circular and coaxial with the annular plate. A carriage 43 is mounted on the rails for travel therealong in opposite directions and throughout an angle of 360 or more. The carriage 43 has rollers 44 which ride on the outer track 41b. The carriage carries an auxiliary metal forming assemblage, indicated generally at 4-5, which, for purposes of illustration, is shown as a wipe forming assemblage. The assemblage 45 comprises a hydraulic or fluid pressure cylinder 46 in which is reciprocable a piston 47 having a rod 48 to the outer end of which is connected an auxiliary tool which is shown as a wipe shoe 49. The piston is mounted in a suitable yoke 50 by means of upright trunnions 51 for swinging about an upright axis parallel to the axis of the table. However, suitable clamping devices 52 may be secured on the carriage and engage opposite sides of the cylinder 46 so as to lock the cylinder against swinging movement when it is to be used for wipe forming. The swinging movement is provided in event the tool used is to be a stretch forming head.

For driving the carriage 43 in opposite directions, selectively, along the track 41 for 360 or more, as desired, a suitable reversible hydraulic motor 54 is mounted on the carriage. Preferably, the drive by the motor 54 relative to the table is by means of a planetary transmission which may include a suitable external ring gear 55 coaxial with the track and engaged by a spur gear 56 which is rotatably mounted on the carriage and driven by the motor 54 and thus planetates relative t the gear 55 as the carriage 43 travels along the track 41.

Pressure fluid is supplied to the assemblage 45 through suitable lines 56 connected by suitable slip rings 57 and lines 58 to a solenoid operated reversible valve 59. Pressure fluid is supplied to the valve 59 by a pump 60 driven by a motor 61. correspondingly, pressure fluid is supplied to the motor 54 through lines 62 connected to slip rings 63 which, by lines 64, are connected to a reversible solenoid operated valve 65. Pressure fluid is supplied to the valve 65 by the pump 60. The slip rings are mounted on a support 66 which is supported in fixed position above, and preferably in coaxial relation to, the table. Thus the feed lines are above the operating level of the die and do not interfere in any way with the travel of the carriage through 360 or more, or as many revolutions as may be desired.

With the arrangement above described, it is apparent that the stock can be grippedby the clamp 15 and, by means of the fixture, can be wipe formed about the die 14. Again, the stock can be stretch formed by the assemblage 9 and while being stretch formed can be wiped in opposite directions, as desired, by the fixture. At the same time, combined wipe and stretch forming by means of the stretch forming assemblage 9 and the traversing wipe forming assemblage 30 can be effected, and concurrently the stock can be wiped by the auxiliary fixture to conform with the side face of the die.

Again, since the shoe 49 is movable about the axis of the table independently of the stretch forming operations and of the manner of operation of the traversing wipe forming assemblage, the traversing wipe forming operation can be performed with or without stretch forming and concurrently the fixture used for additional wipe forming.

It is noted that when the carriage with the auxiliary forming assemblage is to be moved past the traversing wipe forming shoe 35, the wipe forming shoe 35 is traversed along its guideway 24 to a position so as not to interfere.

The device is useful not only in combination with other wipe forming and stretch forming equipment, but is useful per se as a fixture in that it can be placed on the table and after the wipe forming and stretch forming operations have been completed and the stock released, it can travel 360 in either direction around the stock any number of times and thus finally bring the stock back to full conformance with the die.

Furthermore, it has uses on the table for re-conforming to the die pieces which lose some of their conformity due to heat treating and the like after stretch and wipe forming. Again, since the assemblage 45 is arranged to urge the shoe 49 yieldably against the side face of the die, the fixture, though employing a circular track, may be used with dies which are curvilinear and of variable radius, and not circular.

Herein, and in the claims, the machine has been referred to in a position in which the table rotates about an upright axis. This position is only for convenience in description of the relative position of the parts, and is not critical otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A metal forming machine comprising a frame, a horizontal table, a curvilinear side face die mounted on the top of the table, clamp means for connecting one end of a length of stock in fixed position relative to the side face, a curvilinear track detachably mounted in fixed position on the top of the table with its axis upright, a carriage mounted on the track for movement therealong about the track axis, a work-forming tool, means on the carriage supporting the tool for said movement relative thereto toward and away from the die for moving the stock transversely of the die so as to lay the stock onto the side face progressively from one location on the stock to another upon movement of the carriage along said track, tool operating means to cause said movement during travel of the carriage along said track, a power transmission drivingly interconnecting the table and carriage for driving the carriage along said track, said transmission including a stationary element in fixed position relative to the table and having a driving portion coaxial with the track, and a drivable element mounted on the carriage for rotation, about an axis parallel to the axis of the stationary element, relative to the carriage, for movement with the carriage along the track, and drivingly connected to said portion for planetary movement relative thereto for driving the carriage along the track when the drivable element is rotated, motor means on said carriage and drivingly connected to said drivable element, and means to supply power to the motor means in all positions of the carriage along the track, means supporting the table for rotation about an upright axis, and power means operable independently of the motor means to rotate the table independently of the travel of the carriage along said track, a stretch forming assemblage mounted on the frame, a stock gripping head carried by the assemblage for movement toward and away from the side face of the die and adapted for connection to the other end of the stock for stretch forming the stock upon rotation of the table, concurrently with the application of the stock onto the die face by the tool.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said stationary element is a fixed gear coaxial with the track and in fixed position relative thereto, and the drivable element is a planetary gear in mesh with the fixed gear.

3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the track is circular and extends 360 about its axis.

4. A metal forming machine according to claim 1 wherein said track extends 360 about its axis of curvature.

5. The structure according to claim 1 including, in addition, a wipe forming assemblage disposed alongside of the table and operable to press the stock against the side face of the die, and power means to operate the Wipe forming assemblage independently of the operation of said tool.

6. A metal forming machine comprising a horizontal frame, a table mounted thereon for rotation about an upright axis, power means to rotate the table, a stretch forming piston and cylinder assemblage mounted on the frame with its axis parallel to a plane normal to the table axis, a side face die on the top of the table, means for connecting one end of a length of stock for rotation with the die, means for connecting the other end of the stock to the stretch forming assemblage, a track detachably mounted in fixed position on the top of the table and extending lengthwise of the die face, a wipe forming device for pressing the stock against the die face, said device including a carriage mounted on the track for movement therealong independently of the rotated position of the table, additional power means on the carriage and movable with the carriage along the track, and operable independently of rotation of the table, and a driving connection between the table and power means of the carriage for causing movement of the carriage along the track by the additional power means.

7. A metal forming machine comprising a frame, a horizontal table mounted thereon for rotation about an upright axis, a curvilinear side face die mounted on the top of the table, means for connecting one end of a length of stock in fixed position relative to the side face, a track mounted on the top of the table and extending at least 360 about said axis, a carriage mounted on the track for movement therealong, a wipe forming shoe mounted on the carriage for movement toward and away from the side face for pressing the stock, transversely of said axis, against the side face, progressively from one location on the stock to another during movement of the carriage along said track, means on the carriage supporting the shoe for said movement toward and away from the die face and with the carriage, shoe operating means on the carriage to cause said movement of the shoe toward the die face during movement of the carriage, reversible power means for driving the carriage along said track in opposite directions, selectively, independently of table rotation, an additional reversible power means for driving the table in opposite directions of rotation, selec- 10 tively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,676 Turnblade Jan. 12, 1960 

1. A METAL FORMING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A HORIZONTAL TABLE, A CURVILINEAR SIDE FACE DIE MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE TABLE, CLAMP MEANS FOR CONNECTING ONE END OF A LENGTH OF STOCK IN FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SIDE FACE, A CURVILINEAR TRACK DETACHABLY MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION ON THE TOP OF THE TABLE WITH ITS AXIS UPRIGHT, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON THE TRACK FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG ABOUT THE TRACK AXIS, A WORK-FORMING TOOL, MEANS ON THE CARRIAGE SUPPORTING THE TOOL FOR SAID MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE DIE FOR MOVING THE STOCK TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIE SO AS TO LAY THE STOCK ONTO THE SIDE FACE PROGRESSIVELY FROM ONE LOCATION ON THE STOCK TO ANOTHER UPON MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK, TOOL OPERATING MEANS TO CAUSE SAID MOVEMENT DURING TRAVEL OF THE CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK, A POWER TRANSMISSION DRIVINGLY INTERCONNECTING THE TABLE AND CARRIAGE FOR DRIVING THE CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK, SAID TRANSMISSION INCLUDING A STATIONARY ELEMENT IN FIXED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE TABLE AND HAVING A DRIVING PORTION COAXIAL WITH THE TRACK, AND A DRIVABLE ELEMENT MOUNTED ON THE CARRIAGE FOR ROTATION, ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE STATIONARY ELEMENT, RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE, FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE TRACK, AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID PORTION FOR PLANETARY MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO FOR DRIVING THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE TRACK WHEN THE DRIVABLE ELEMENT IS ROTATED, MOTOR MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVABLE ELEMENT, AND MEANS TO SUPPLY POWER TO THE MOTOR MEANS IN ALL POSITIONS OF THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE TRACK, MEANS SUPPORTING THE TABLE FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS, AND POWER MEANS OPERABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE MOTOR MEANS TO ROTATE THE TABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE TRAVEL OF THE CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK, A STRETCH FORMING ASSEMBLAGE MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, A STOCK GRIPPING HEAD CARRIED BY THE ASSEMBLAGE FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SIDE FACE OF THE DIE AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO THE OTHER END OF THE STOCK FOR STRETCH FORMING THE STOCK UPON ROTATION OF THE TABLE, CONCURRENTLY WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE STOCK ONTO THE DIE FACE BY THE TOOL. 